The Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (Adak) on Tuesday handed the 2016 London Marathon champion the mandatory four-year ban after the Sports Dispute Tribunal found the athlete culpable for a doping offence.

According to a ruling by the Tribunal signed by chairman John Ohaga on October 31, this year, Sumgong will remain banned from April 3, this year for a period of four years after she broke Article 10.2.1 and 10.11.2 of the Anti-Doping Rules (ADR) and Wada Code.

Sumgong has the right to appeal provided under Article 13.2.1 of Wada Code and Rule 42 of the IAAF Competition Rules and Article 13 of ADR.

The runner was found to have tested positive for the banned blood-booster Erythropoietin (EPO) in an out-of-competition test carried out by the IAAF in February this year.

Sumgong failed to request for B-Sample test but instead responded to a notice from IAAF claiming that she consulted unnamed doctor at the Kenyatta National Hospital on February 23, this year for severe bleeding resulting from previous night travel and that she was given a blood transfusion in addition to other unknown medication, which she had not disclosed to Doping Control on February 28.

Sumgong stated that it was unfortunate offence and unintended.

She had indicated in her defence that she had not disclosed this information to her husband Noah Talam, who is also her coach because it was a taboo associated with her condition, which was as a result of an ectopic pregnancy. That it could have caused her to be shunned.

In its application, Adak indicated that the response and conduct of the athlete was evaluated by IAAF and it was deemed to constitute an Anti-doping violation and referred to the Kenyan agency for results management.

Adak, who made the application, was represented by Erick Omariba during the hearing on October 18 preside over by Ohaga and other tribunal members Mary Kimani and Robert Asembo.